Red Buttons, born Aaron Chwatt on February 5, 1919, in New York City, emerged from humble beginnings as the son of Jewish immigrants. At the age of sixteen, Chwatt embarked on his entertainment career as a bellhop at Ryan's Tavern in City Island, Bronx. It was there that his red hair and the shiny, buttoned bellhop uniform inspired orchestra leader Charles "Dinty" Moore to bestow upon him the moniker "Red Buttons," a name that would become synonymous with comedy and entertainment. During the summer of his early years, Buttons honed his comedic skills in the Borscht Belt, where he worked alongside his straight man, Robert Alda. In 1939, he transitioned to working for Minsky's Burlesque, eventually landing a part in a Broadway show directed by José Ferrer, titled *The Admiral Had a Wife*. Set to open on December 8, 1941, the show's debut was canceled in the aftermath of the Pearl Harbor attack, an incident Buttons later humorously claimed was orchestrated to prevent him from making his Broadway debut. His official Broadway debut finally came in September 1942 with the production *Vickie*, sharing the stage with José Ferrer and Uta Hagen. That same year, Buttons appeared in the final Minsky's Burlesque show, *Wine, Women and Song*, which marked the end of an era when the performance was shut down by Mayor La Guardia's administration, resulting in Buttons being on stage during the raid. In 1943, Red Buttons joined the Army Air Corps and featured in the Broadway production *Winged Victory*, which was also adapted into a film by Darryl F. Zanuck. Following his military service, Buttons entertained troops in Europe with Mickey Rooney's touring outfit before returning to the U.S. to continue his Broadway pursuits and performances with Big Bands at movie houses. Red Buttons gained widespread fame with *The Red Buttons Show*, his own television variety series that aired from 1952 to 1955. The show was a success, and his catchphrase, "strange things are happening," briefly entered the national lexicon. A significant turning point in his career came with the film *Sayonara* (1957), where he played Joe Kelly, an American airman stationed in Japan during the Korean War. His poignant performance won him the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, marking a notable departure from his comedic roots. Buttons continued to appear in numerous films, such as *Hatari!*, *The Longest Day*, *Harlow*, *The Poseidon Adventure*, *They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?*, *Pete’s Dragon*, and *18 Again!* alongside George Burns. On television, Buttons made memorable appearances on shows like *It's Garry Shandling's Show*, *ER*, and *Roseanne*. Renowned for his comedic timing, his "Never Got A Dinner" routine became a staple at the Dean Martin roasts, cementing his status as a comedy legend. In 2004, Comedy Central recognized his contributions to the art form, ranking him #71 on their list of the 100 Greatest Stand-ups of All Time. Buttons experienced three marriages throughout his life; first to Roxanne Arlen from 1947 to 1951, then to Helayne McNorton from 1949 to 1963, and finally, Alicia Pratt from 1964 until her death in 2001. He had two children, Amy Buttons Morgress and Adam Buttons. Beyond his entertainment career, he served as the spokesperson for the Century Village retirement community in Florida. Red Buttons passed away on July 13, 2006, at the age of 87, at his home in the Century City area of Los Angeles. He succumbed to vascular disease, with family members by his side, leaving behind a legacy of laughter and poignancy on both stage and screen.